Blight

Aquariums of Pyongyang

I recently finished reading this terrific account of a horrible tale. A Korean family leaves their wealthy lives in Japan to help build the ideal communist state in North Korea. Unfortunately the new state is suspicious of the family and quickly forces them into a forced labour camp.

Aquariums of Pyongyang, an account taken from a defector from North Korea who was sent to the gulag at age 9, is rich in detail and pulls no punches. It is very informative, but it also reads with a good flow that tells a proper story.

While not recommendable as a feel-good bed-time story, it satisfied my interests to learn more about this tightly guarded kingdom.

For extra points, here is some secret video footage on youtube showing the camp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN0xQByxwxk

Labels: book

posted by Blight @ 12:53 PM